With any luck, you'll be cured after you complete your Lupron. our Lupron should go on for at least 18 months. Teddski in reply to Tall_Allen Thank-you for the response. I hope the radiation did the job. Magnus1964 What was your PSA at diagnosis and what is it now? To ease your mind there are a lot of other treatments out there.
Full Answer
What happens on the last day of radiation therapy?
For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks or months to see any change in the cancer. The cancer cells may keep dying for weeks or months after the end of treatment.
What are the long term effects of Lupron?
Moreover, Lupron also can contribute to longer term health problems, including coronary issues. Much depends on the health on the individual patient. As always with prostate cancer it seems, hormone deprivation therapy comes with its own series of trade-offs that make clearcut decisions difficult.
How long does it take for radiation to work on cancer?
Radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks or months to see any change in the cancer. The cancer cells may keep dying for weeks or months after the end of treatment. It may be some time before you know whether the radiation therapy has controlled the cancer.
Can Lupron be used to treat bone cancer?
The cancer has not spread to the bones. I have received two Lupron injections 3 months apart and will complete 28 radiation treatments in the next couple of days. No surgery. I have tolerated the Lupron shots well with few but manageable side effects.
What happens when Lupron treatment is over?
When a person first starts treatment with Lupron, they may have a testosterone flare. Later on, they may experience side effects due to having very low testosterone levels in their body. After treatment stops, testosterone levels begin to return to normal.
Does radiotherapy continue to working after treatment is finished?
How long does radiation therapy take to work? Radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells right away. It takes days or weeks of treatment before cancer cells start to die. Then, cancer cells keep dying for weeks or months after radiation therapy ends.
What happens after you finish radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks or months to see any change in the cancer. The cancer cells may keep dying for weeks or months after the end of treatment. It may be some time before you know whether the radiation therapy has controlled the cancer.
How long does it take for a prostate tumor to shrink after radiation?
For tumors that divide slowly, the mass may shrink over a long, extended period after radiation stops. The median time for a prostate cancer to shrink is about 18 months (some quicker, some slower).
Do tumors grow back after radiation?
Normal cells close to the cancer can also become damaged by radiation, but most recover and go back to working normally. If radiotherapy doesn't kill all of the cancer cells, they will regrow at some point in the future.
How will I know if radiotherapy has worked?
There are a number of ways your care team can determine if radiation is working for you. These can include: Imaging Tests: Many patients will have radiology studies (CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans) during or after treatment to see if/how the tumor has responded (gotten smaller, stayed the same, or grown).
How long does it take to get back to normal after radiotherapy?
The side effects of radiotherapy usually peak up to two weeks after treatment has finished. The effects of radiotherapy continue developing, and it may take a further couple of weeks to several months for you to feel normal, depending on the area of the body that has been treated.
What do you say to someone who finished radiation?
Here are some good options.“I don't know exactly what to say, but please know how much I care.”“What can I do for you?”“I'm always here if you ever want to talk.”“I'm so sorry this happened to you.”Use humor, but only if you know it will be received positively. ... No words, just listen.
How long does it take for your immune system to recover from radiation?
It can take months for the immune system to rebound after chemo and radiation. The specific drug(s) can make a difference in recovery time. Smokers tend to recover more slowly.
What happens if my PSA goes up after radiation?
A rise in your PSA level may suggest that you still have some prostate cancer cells. After radiotherapy or brachytherapy, your PSA should drop to its lowest level (nadir) after 18 months to two years. Your PSA level won't fall to zero as your healthy prostate cells will continue to produce some PSA.
Can a prostate grow back after radiation?
Defining biochemical recurrence This is because after radiation therapy the prostate gland remains intact and can recover some function. This is also true if you received hormone therapy as part of your radiation treatment: As you recover, testosterone levels rise, and so does your PSA.
What happens to the prostate gland after radiation?
Radiotherapy to the prostate can cause some side effects, such as loose or watery poo (diarrhoea) and passing urine more often. Everyone is different and the side effects vary from person to person. You may not have all of the effects mentioned.
What happens after radiation treatment?
What happens after treatment finishes? After radiation therapy has finished, your treatment team will give you general information about your recovery. They will tell you how to look after the treatment area and recommend ways to manage side effects. They will also suggest who to call if you have any concerns.
How long does it take for cancer to go away after radiation?
Radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks or months to see any change in the cancer. The cancer cells may then keep dying for weeks or months after the end of treatment.
How long does radiation treatment last?
What Happens During Radiation. The treatment is normally Monday through Friday and lasts about 45 minutes. A lot of time is spent getting your body in the right position, so the radiation hits its desired locations. You lay down on a custom-molded table. A technician positions your body using lasers and measurements.
How long does it take for radiation to hit your body?
This may seem scary, but this ensures the radiation does not hit healthy areas. The radiation takes a couple of minutes. You can sense when the radiation hits your body if you receive radiation to your brain.
Does radiation cause hair loss?
Radiation to your brain causes hair loss, but over time it grows back. As your hair grows again, so will you. Remember, during and after radiation treatment, listen to your body, ask questions, acknowledge side effects and adjust.